INSIDE THE BLACKHAWKS.

Shantz Turns In Hull Of An Effort

February 14, 1997|By Rich Strom, Tribune Staff Writer.

Jeff Shantz has a highlight film to show friends and relatives for the rest of his life.

It started quietly in the Blackhawks' end in the first period Thursday night, with Shantz maneuvering past San Jose's Bob Errey. He then worked past Dody Wood and Greg Hawgood before faking out Chris LiPuma and lifting the puck past goalie Kelly Hrudey.

"It was the highlight goal of the year for our team," said coach Craig Hartsburg. "It started to set the tone for us because he started to skate a lot better after that."

Shantz, in his usual manner, downplayed the effort, saying "things just opened up in the middle and I kept going, took what was there, then I found myself in front of the net--just me and Hrudey--and I got lucky."

But when Hartsburg was asked if Shantz looked like ex-Hawk great Bobby Hull on the play, he replied, "Yeah, he did . . . right-handed."

More like it: Gary Suter looked like the Suter of old, recording two goals and two assists--one more point than he had in the previous 17 games. "He was jumping up in the play and using his strengths," said Hartsburg. "He's an offensive defenseman, and he contributed in a big way. That's what we want him to do."

Happy camper: Chris Terreri is now 2-0 in a Hawk uniform after going 6-10-3 with San Jose, and he loves the new surroundings. "This team is so solid defensively, it's a breath of fresh air," he said. "Nothing against San Jose, it's just the way this team plays, its philosophy. We don't get a lot of chances. We're a patient team. It's fun to play for."

Rockin': Referee Don Koharski was kept busy Thursday, handing out 150 minutes of penalties. Jim Cummins and Bridgeview native LiPuma squared off in the second period in the wildest fight, Cummins landing a few more punches. Enrico Ciccone stuck up for teammate Tony Amonte and picked up 17 penalty minutes (2 minutes for instigation, 5 minutes for fighting, 10-minute misconduct) as a result of his bout with San Jose's Tim Hunter. Just 5:29 into the third period, Bob Probert joined the slugfest, pounding Todd Ewen. Koharski tacked on six 10-minute game misconducts, three to each team, with 46 seconds left in the game.

"If teams come into our building and challenge us, we'll be right there challenging them," said Cummins.

Black and bruise: A James Black slap shot that struck Murray Craven in the left shoulder at practice Tuesday knocked the veteran center out of the lineup Thursday. Denis Savard, who hadn't played since Feb. 1 in Los Angeles, took Craven's spot on a line with Black and Sergei Krivokrasov.

"We're hoping it's day-to-day," Hartsburg said of Craven's injury. "It's just a bruise, but it's in a spot that's pretty sore. He can't do much puck handling or shooting."